Biddestone

Biddestone

Biddestone surrounds a large village green
Biddestone
Biddestone shown within Wiltshire
Population 498 (in 2011)[1]
OS grid reference ST863735
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town CHIPPENHAM
Postcode district SN14 7
Dialling code 01249
Police Wiltshire
Fire Dorset and Wiltshire
Ambulance South Western
EU Parliament South West England
UK Parliament
Website Village

Biddestone is a village and civil parish in northwest Wiltshire, England, about 3 miles (5 km) west of Chippenham and 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Corsham. The parish includes the smaller settlement of Slaughterford.

Geography

The Bybrook River forms the western boundary of the parish, while the northern boundary follows approximately the Bristol to Chippenham road, now the A420.

The parish is just inside the eastern boundary of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Sites of Special Scientific Interest include Honeybrook Farm and Colerne Park and Monk's Wood, both near Slaughterford.

History

The Manor House (Grade II* listed)[2] and Manor Farmhouse[3] are from the 17th century, as are Pool Farmhouse[4] and Elm Cottage.[5]

Local government

The civil parish elects a parish council. It is in the area of Wiltshire Council unitary authority, which is responsible for all significant local government functions.

Religious sites

The Church of England parish church of St Nicholas is Grade I listed.[6][7] It has a Norman doorway and windows, and a 13th-century bell turret on its roof.

A church of St Peter, on the eastern side of the village, was demolished in 1846. Possibly of Saxon origin, it had been rebuilt in 1430.[8]

Biddestone Baptist chapel, dated 1832 and formerly known as Ebenezer Chapel, is Grade II listed.[9] By 2009 it had fallen into disuse.

A small Methodist chapel stands at the northern extreme of the village, at the junction with Slaughterford Road. By 2009 this too was disused; records survive for the period 1960-1979.[10]

Slaughterford has its own church, also dedicated to St Nicholas, and had a Quaker meeting house.

Amenities

Sports facilities include a cricket club who play in the Gloucestershire & Wiltshire division of the West of England Premier League.[11] There is also a tennis club and a football club, Biddestone F.C., which played in the Western League until 2007.

The village has two pubs, the Biddestone Arms and the White Horse. The Crown Inn at Giddeahall on the A420 is just outside the parish.

There is no primary school; most children travel to By Brook Valley CE Primary School in nearby Yatton Keynell, which was built to amalgamate the small primary schools in Biddestone, Yatton Keynell, Castle Combe and Nettleton. The school at Biddestone, which also served Slaughterford, was built in 1844 and enlarged in 1875, and took children of all ages until 1945. It was closed in 1998 owing to falling pupil numbers.[12]

Film location

Biddestone was a filming location for the TV film Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (2014), and for The Christmas Candle (2013).

References

  1. ↑ "Wiltshire Community History - Census". Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  2. ↑ Historic England. "The Manor House and barn, Chippenham Lane, Biddestone (1363596)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  3. ↑ Historic England. "Manor Farmhouse, Corsham Road, Biddestone (1198858)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  4. ↑ Historic England. "Pool Farmhouse, The Green, Biddestone (1022837)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  5. ↑ Historic England. "Elm Cottage, The Green, Biddestone (1283626)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  6. ↑ Historic England. "Church of St Nicholas, Biddestone (1198839)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  7. ↑ "St Nicholas' Church, Biddestone". Wiltshire Community History. Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  8. ↑ "St Peter's Church, Biddestone". Wiltshire Community History. Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  9. ↑ Historic England. "Biddestone Baptist Chapel (1363601)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  10. ↑ "Biddestone Methodist Chapel - 1960-1979: trustees' meeting minute book". The National Archives. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  11. ↑ "Glos/Wilts 2015". West of England Premier Cricket League. England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  12. ↑ "Biddestone Church of England School". Wiltshire Community History. Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
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